Putting their best paw forward for charity

Galloway, a Great Dane, with owner Glenn Crewther (left) meets Chilli, a Yorkshire terrier, owned by Melody Bird. Photo / Jason Oxenham

They woofed and they walked with their owners yesterday to kick off a fundraising appeal for people in need of assistance dogs.

The charity dog walk Woof & Walk 4DNZ at One Tree Hill Domain launched the Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust annual appeal. The appeal will run until Saturday to raise funds to provide families with disabled and autistic children with assistance dogs.

The trust trains dogs to support multiple disabilities, and to promote independent living, mobility, safety and companionship to those people who need them.

There were 20 people on the waiting list and the current waiting time for a dog was two years.

"Without money generously donated by the community, we can't carry out this very important work," said trust spokeswoman Wendy Isaacs.

Leading the walk yesterday was Warriors and Kiwis captain Simon Mannering, and an assistance puppy in training was walked by Alysha Brown of The Bachelor.